Ileana C. Lozano

Education:

• M.S. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (2020) The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Edinburg, TX(1st student to earn this degree from UTRGV)
• B.S. in Psychology, Minor: Medical Humanities (2017) The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Edinburg, TX
• Certified Dental Assistant (2015-2016)
• B.S. in Biology, Minor: Chemistry and Psychology (2014) The University of Texas-Pan American, Edinburg, TX

Research Skills:

• In-situ hybridization, antibody staining and confocal microscopy (2018-19)
• Cryostat tissue preparation and slide preparations (2018-19)
• DNA extraction, mini prep kit and PCR (2018-20)
• Worked with Monodelphis domesitica tissues infected with Zika and Dengue virus (2018-2019)
• Infecting mosquitos via infectious blood meal and handling ZIKA virus infected mosquitos. (2017-20)
• Proper tissue preparation of infected mosquito tissues and viral RNA extraction. (2017-20)
• Virology plaque assay (2017-18)
• Gel electrophoresis (2016-2019)
• Western Blot techniques (2017-19)
• Cell culturing of neuronal SHSY-5Y, Vero 76, and microglia cell lines. (2016-19)
• Mosquito identification dichotomous key (2016-2017)
• SEM and TEM electron microscopy (2016)
• ArcGis and SPSS (2016)

Research Conducted:

• Examined a new model organism for Zika virus in Monodelphis domestica and other miscellaneous projects. (2017-2019) (Dr. John Thomas’s Lab)
• Examined Temperature effects on Zika virus dissemination in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes (2017-2020) (Dr. Christopher Vitek’s Lab)
• Promoted to Biodiversity Project Coordinator (2016-2017) (Dr. Christopher Vitek’s Lab)
• Mosquito Biodiversity Project (2016- 2017) (Dr. Christopher Vitek’s Lab)
• In the UTRGV Medical School Biomedical Department, I worked on two long term projects examining brain cells and various treatments. (2016-2019) (Dr. Shivani Maffi’s Lab)
• Worked on the distribution of Chagas Disease Vectors in South Texas. Our research was presented at the Engaged Scholar Symposium, where it was named a research honoree. (2016) (Dr. Teresa Feria-Arroyo’s Lab)

 Research posters and oral presentations:

• Ileana C. Lozano, Lopamudra Bhattacharya, Eleaine Barron, Jeremy Thompson, Kusy Zarzosa, Taylor Moya, Cruz Cardenas and Christopher Vitek. “Mosquito abundance patterns in south Texas.” Entomology Society of America (ESA) Conference, Denver, CO (2017).
• Ileana C. Lozano, Giovanina A. Hinojosa, Feroz Akhtar, Andrew Tsin, Leslie Rivera-Lopez, and Shivani Maffi. “Redox and ethanol cause detrimental microglia phenotypic changes via NF-kB signaling.”, School of Medicine Research Symposium, McAllen, TX (2017).
• Ileana C. Lozano, Giovanina A. Hinojosa, Feroz Akhtar, Andrew Tsin, Leslie Rivera-Lopez, and Shivani Maffi. “Increased glutathione levels may regulate NF-kB signaling in ethanol exposed microglia and morphological phenotypic changes.” Research Society on Alcoholism (RSA) Conference, Denver, CO (2017).
• Ileana C. Lozano, Giovanina A. Hinojosa, Feroz Akhtar, Andrew Tsin, Leslie Rivera-Lopez, and Shivani Maffi. “Glutathione levels regulate NF-kB signaling in ethanol exposed microglia and morphological phenotypic changes.” Texas Research Society on Alcoholism (TRSA) Conference (2017).
• Ileana C. Lozano, Giovanina A. Hinojosa, Feroz Akhtar, Andrew Tsin, Leslie Rivera-Lopez, and Shivani Maffi. “Glutathione levels regulate NF-kB signaling in ethanol exposed microglia and morphological phenotypic changes.” College of Sciences Annual Conference, Edinburg, TX (2017).
• Ileana C. Lozano, Giovanina A. Hinojosa, Feroz Akhtar, Andrew Tsin, Leslie Rivera-Lopez, and Shivani Maffi. “Morphological phenotypic changes and NF-kB signaling regulated by glutathione levels in ethanol exposed microglia.” Engaged Scholar Symposium, Edinburg, TX (2017). Poster presentation was selected as exemplary presentation in community-based science/engineering research.
• Ileana C. Lozano, Giovanina A. Hinojosa, Feroz Akhtar, Andrew Tsin, Leslie Rivera-Lopez, and Shivani Maffi. “Changes in glutathione levels cause changes in NF-kB signaling cascade following ethanol exposure in microglia.” BBC conference, San Antonio, TX (2018).
• Ileana Lozano, Yolanda Crous, Marcos Montalvo, Brittany Bunag, Shivani Maffi. “Evaluating the effects of the combined use of NSAIDs and alcohol on key brain cells (neuronal SHSY-5Y and microglia cell line) oxidative stress and apoptosis.” S.M.A.R.T. Symposium, Edinburg, TX (2018).
• Ileana C. Lozano, Angel Jimenez, John L. VandeBerg, Susan M. Mahaney, Juan Garcia, Matthew Terry, and John M. Thomas III “Monodelphis domestica as a Model to Study Zika Virus Pathogenesis.” American Society of Microbiology Texas Branch, Corpus Christi, TX (2018).
• Ileana C. Lozano, John M. Thomas III, Matthew Terry and Christopher Vitek “Temperature effects on Zika virus dissemination in Aedes aegypti” Entomology Society of America (ESA) Conference, Vancouver, Canada (2018).
• Ileana C. Lozano, Angel Jimenez, John L. VandeBerg, Susan M. Mahaney, Juan Garcia, Matthew Terry, and John M. Thomas III^, “Monodelphis domestica as a Model to Study Zika Virus Pathogenesis.” UTRGV Graduate Student Research Showcase, Edinburg, TX (2019). Nominated and selected to represent the biology department in the Graduate Student Research Showcase.

Employment:

• Teaching Graduate Assistant for Cell Biology (2019)
• Graduate Research Assistantship (2018)
• Teaching Graduate Assistant for Anatomy and Physiology 1 (2018)
• M.A.R.T. Program Graduate Mentor (2018)
• Teaching Graduate Assistant for Disease Epidemiology (2017)
• Graduate Research Assistant (2017)
• Office assistant in Women’s Health Institute of South Texas (2016-2024)

Professional Academic Organization Officer:

• RGV SACNAS President (2017-2019)
• Biology Graduate Student Executive Committee member (2018-2019)
• Pre-Dental Society Secretary (2011-2012)
• Pre-Dental Society Historian (2010-2011)

Professional Academic Organizations:         

• American Medical Student Association (2020-23)
• Golden Key Honor Society (2018-2019)
• Medlife (2019)
• Biology Journal Club (2018-19)
• RGV SACNAS (2017-2019)
• Entomology Society of America (2017-2018)
• American Society for Microbiology (2018, 2020)
• Pre-Dental Society (2009-2017)
• Pre-Medical Bio-Medical Society (2010, 2017)
• Psi Chi Honor Society (2017)
• ASDA Pre-Dental (2014-16)
• ADEA Pre-Dental (2014-15)
• Biology Club (2009-2011)

Non-Science Article Publications:

• Ileana Lozano. “Online CV.” The Houston Fill (September 2015).
• Ileana Lozano. ” Oral Care for Special Needs Patients.” The Houston Fill (May 2015).
• Ileana Lozano. “Essential ADEA AADSAS application pointers.” ASDA Mouthing Off (2015).
• Ileana Lozano. “Why business matters to your predental journey.” ASDA Mouthing Off (2014).
• Ileana Lozano. “Making a difference in ADA Mission of Mercy.” ASDA Mouthing Off (2014).

Scholarships/Awards:

• AAAS/Science Program for Excellence in Science (2019)
• UTRGV Graduate Student Travel Award (2018)
• James Ware Foltz Travel Award (2018)
• M.A.R.T. Program (2017-18)
• BBC Travel Award (2018)
• James Ware Foltz Travel Award (2017)
• UTRGV Graduate Student Travel Award (2017)
• Psi Chi President’s List (2017)
• UTRGV Graduating Student Leader (2017)
• Student Government Association Travel Award (2017)
• RSA Student Merit Award (2017)
• Was awarded as a team the Engaged Scholar Award (2016-2017)
• Texas Early High School Scholarship (2009)

Internships:

• One Health Internship (In Texas A and M, UTMB, and UTRGV) (Jun. 2018)

Community Service:

• Super Rami Volunteer working with hospitalized children and new member recruitment activities (2017-23)
• As a Super Rami Volunteer, I assisted in managing and organizing the Super Rami Halloween party for critical care children in DHR Hospital (2018)
• RGV SACNAS Volunteer and co-organizer of STEM community outreach activities in Gonzales Elementary School (2017-18)
• Dental assistant volunteer for the Dentist Who Care Mobile Care Van (2015)
• Dental assistant volunteer in Operation Lone Star in the PSJA and Mission Locations (2015)
• Volunteer in Visual Oral Cancer Screening in Texas Oncology (2015)
• Volunteer with Frontera de Salud (UTHSCSA Chapter) in the Donna colonias (2015)
• Volunteer leader at Building Our Leaders in Dentistry (BOLD) Workshop for High School Students (2015)
• Volunteer in ADA Mission of Mercy (2014)
• Staff volunteer for the 18th Annual Charity Dental Conference and Silent Auction (2014)
• 1st Annual Health Professions Summit Leader Volunteer (2014)
• Office staff volunteer with Dentist Who Care (2014)
• Mercy Ministries of Laredo Dental Clinic Volunteer (2014)
• Volunteer at multiple local School Smiles Event (2014)
• Created, organized and conducted Toy Drive for Children diagnosed with cancer during Christmas (2012-2014, 2020-2024)
• Volunteered in oral cancer health screening at Doctors Hospital at Renaissance (2011)
• Food Bank 5K Volunteer and organizer (2010)